Burish feels this time he’s returning to Dallas with more edge in his game than previous visit

DALLAS – This isn’t Adam Burish’s first time back here since leaving the Dallas Stars and signing a four-year, $7.4 million contract with the Sharks as a free agent.

But he’s feeling a lot better about his game than the first time he returned on Feb. 23.

“The last few weeks, my game’s been better. I think I’ve tried to kind of bring a little more energy, a little more nastiness to my game, a little more in-your-face,” Burish said Saturday morning. “Because of that I think I’ve been able to contribute more.”

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Sharks GM Doug Wilson went after Burish to bring the same grit the Sharks saw both in Dallas and during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. Even Burish acknowledges some of that was lacking in his game earlier this season.

“Part of it was just trying to figure out on a new team what the coaching staff wants from me, what they kind of think they need from me,” Burish said. “Am I doing what they want? I don’t know if I’m doing what they want. Should I do more here? Should I do more there? Should I be more reckless? Should I be more careful? Should I be smarter? I think it’s a feeling out process with a new team and a new coaching staff you don’t really know too well.”

Todd McLellan looks at Burish’s season similarly, saying he has evolved.

“New player, shortened season, short training camp, coming in and adjusting to our group — it takes awhile to be integrated and emotionally attached,” the Sharks coach said. “And then as the year goes on, his game has to be played a certain way with a certain edge. We had to remind him of that, but from that point on it’s been a very hard, competitive, drag-everybody-in type game and that’s been a good thing for us.”

Burish, 30, seems to have settled into a spot on the Sharks fourth line with Scott Gomez and Andrew Desjardins. Before that, however, McLellan made him a healthy scratch for games March 27 and 28.

Don’t expect Burish to say he benefited from that.

“No, I was pissed off about that,” he said. “I wasn’t happy about that. I don’t think that helped. I would never say it’s a good thing. But it is what it is. That’s not something that still lingers on with me. It happened, it’s done.”

Burish notes that the fourth line has chipped in with a goal and a few assists lately, but their value has less to do with scoring and more to do with momentum.

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“The big guys will go out there and have a couple good shifts, but to win games now and playoffs, you’ve got to continue those shifts,” he said. “You can’t all of a sudden throw a different group out and they just suck and they get pinned in their own zone. You lose all that momentum and I think our line has done a real good job of continuing to gain momentum.”

And Burish noted that he can still bring more to each game.

“As we get closer to playoffs and the intensity ratchets up, the more responsibility that I’m given, I think I can continue to up my game and up what I know I can bring,” he said.

****Burish is among those surprised by the success Dallas has been having since deadline trades that sent Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh and Jaromir Jagr to the Boston Bruins.

The Stars have reeled off four straight victories and are very much in the playoff hunt.

“When you bring in Young guys, you probably don’t expect they’ll rattle off the wins that they have,” Burish said. “Kind of convincing wins, too. Look at the guys on the roster and in the lineup and you probably don’t recognize many names there. But they’re finding a way to get it done. It’s probably just their youthful energy.”

McLellan pointed out, however, that while the Stars are on a roll that includes a 5-4, come-from-behind shootout win over San Jose, their situation may be changing a little at this point as they start the day only two points out of a post-season spot.

“They have played very loose, very free, excited. Now they’re into a stretch where there’s probably going to be some pressure so they’ll have to deal with that,” McLellan said. “But they’re a hard-working team that gets it done five-on-five.”

“Burnzie has played well with Jumbo and I thought he established himself in and around the net, which is a good thing that Jumbo can work off of,” McLellan said. “Gali’s game has been very strong and he’s got some speed and some tempo so we’ll try it and see what happens.”

McLellan wouldn’t bite at the suggest that maybe he’s hoping that speed and tempo might rub off a little on Thornton.

From Galiardi’s perspective, it’s a pretty nice situation.

“We’ve played together a bit, some games when we were down and stuff,” he said. “It’s great. I love playing with those guys, just staying on the forecheck hard and trying to get them the puck and reap the benefits. Everyone knows what we’re going to do. We’re going to go out and play hard. Burnzie’s flying out there so that makes it easier on me.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Well, here we are in another game where our opponent is likely more desperate to win than the Sharks will be.

Let’s see how our guys can amp their game to match/exceed. That’s where they’ve had some trouble of late, I hope they’ve gotten the message and can make it happen.

Beer League Rocks

And Tmac continues the line shuffling.

spooky

“Part of it was just trying to figure out on a new team what the coaching staff wants from me, what they kind of think they need from me,” Burish said. “Am I doing what they want? I don’t know if I’m doing what they want. Should I do more here? Should I do more there? Should I be more reckless? Should I be more careful? Should I be smarter? I think it’s a feeling out process with a new team and a new coaching staff you don’t really know too well.”

i dont get this at all.
this guys sounds confused.
i thought they brought him in for his game. now he still does not know how to play.
this is totall mess answer.

Renoshark

Burish is just another in a long line of players that struggle after arriving in TMac’s system. Either everyone of these guys forgot how to play hockey on their flights to San Jose or TMac’s system isn’t overly friendly or one in which players tend to flourish.

Lisa

4 spooky
I agree – strange questions/doubts expressed considering he has been on this team since the start of the season in January – 40 games worth pf play – it’s not like he’s been recently acquired at the TDL -doesn’t he get ongoing feedback from the coaches? maybe not…

Dirty

The Burns-Thornton-Galiardi line is a pretty interesting combo. I can see it working real well against Dallas.

Lisa

Anyone got some news on whether Kari Lehtonen will be in net? He had a groin injury.

Dunlap

Wow, not only is he a hugely overpaid underperforming 4th liner but he is also not very bright. His game has been and always be to be a micker grinder agitator forechecker energy guy. His line is suppossed to dump chase muck and grind. Like every line on every team he’s ever played on. Raffi was brought I. For that plus big bits assists and a goal or two, all which he understands, systems be damned. Burish is a joke. “Oh I was confused for 40 games or so, now I vet it. I am suppossed to play with energy!”. He also is.too dim to recognize that being parked for a few games is supplssed to make him angry and play the way he SHOULD already know he is suppossed to play. No Adam that benching wasn’t helpful or necessary at all. Nor does of have anything to do with you playing slightly better since. This guy gets millions?

Dunlap

Very disappointing to see that the Captain has to be paired with linemates that play with energy speed and tempo in an attempt to get him to do the same. Rolls eyes, shakes head and then smacks forehead.

2Teal4You

BLR. Find some star shaped chicken nuggets for the dog. Or a starfish.

Renoshark

Lisa:

Bachman will probably be in net(just guessing) based on Lehtonen’s injury and how he played yesterday.

David Pollak

All,

Lethtonen practice in Dallas this morning, but word filtering out was that he likely was not going to play.

Also, react to Burish as you will, but in the quote you focused on, he was looking back at least several few weeks if not longer. Thought that was clear, but perhaps not.

David

ZEKE

Just took a look at the Buffalo/Philly game. Tuned in at intermission between the 2nd and 3rd period and much to my surprise, there were two black guys doing the commentary.

As much as sports are largely post racial, the tiny numbers of non-white NHL players/coaches/broadcasters is something I’d like to see change. Good for everyone. And besides, it can’t be that tough to improve on Mike Milbury.

Phil

You know — I know that we, as fans, don’t get a lot of access to the players, but don’t you think you guys are focusing just a little too much on this stuff?

I’m going to make a bold prediction, by the way: I think we’ll see Burns return to defense again next season. And it’ll be a good thing.

Renoshark @ 5

For what it’s worth, there have been plenty who got it right away. Dominic Moore and Ian White strike me as people praised by the coaching staff for picking it right up away.

NB Finfan

BLR – Line shuffling hasn’t been too bad lately. TMac has kept pairs together. Jumbo+Burns, Patty+Couture, Pavs+Torres, Desjardin+Burish. The moving parts have been, Galiardi, Havlat, Wingels, Gomez & Sheppard. At some point they have to work Kennedy back in there.

Renoshark

Phil:

Dominic Moore? I don’t agree with that. Ian White and Welly maybe, but it speaks volumes IMO when players usually fall into quicksand immediately upon arrival here.

Deltron3030

Good point renoshark,

Havlat never has seemed to find his groove in the system either.

Hope they look at both guys this summer and consider a compliance buyout, both guys have been consistent at best. Seems like Burish is a good guy to have in the room, but his cap hit for the next 4 years is hard to swallow if he continues to play like he has this season.

I understand, Havlat is not easily replaced or that top six guys are hard to find, but it would be cool if they could buy him out and maybe find a replacement on the open market

Rick

Re: Burish’s “confusion”

That’s all on coaching and leadership. How hard is it when a vet comes in to have coaches and team “leaders” (term used with sarcasm font) to sit down and say, “Here’s what we want from you, do that and don’t worry, you’ll pick up the rest”?

Fortunately the Sharks picked up LR and JJ as defensive coaches so we didn’t see that with Irwin and Tennyson. Watch LR on the bench… he’s often leaning over and coaching just after a shift, reinforcing good or correcting bad. Maybe I don’t notice it but I don’t see that happening with TMac or Woodchuck for the forwards.

will they ever

Beer League Rocks says: And Tmac continues the line shuffling.

=====================
Yep, and he hasn’t shuffled the goalies when he should have… go figure when Nabby is not around to dictate who plays and who doesn’t…

Rick

willtheyever: What make you think that Nemo isn’t now dictating?

That Bearded Puck

Thanks for the clarification on Burish Mr. Pollak. I understood what you were going for in the blog, just some people on here love to overreact given the slightest prompting. At least you can show them the what you meant without it getting called PR spin.

I don’t think its all that surprising that it would take 15 – 20 games for a player to get really acclimated with a new team and system, especially if they have never played under a similar system and only get 7 to 13 minutes a night. A longer preseason and a few more practices, one would hope the new player to integrate quicker; but you take what you can get for the short season.

I wonder how many out there say the first 7 game win streak was due to other teams integrating new players and/or systems, but at the same time rail against Burish for not being a sandpaper monster from game one.

Snow Shovel

Tmac: You’re not here to play the hockey you’ve been taught all your life.

Burish: Well, what is it you want me to do?

Tmac: I want you to follow the ‘PLAN’.

Burish: OK, what is the ‘PLAN’?

Tmac: We can’t tell you. it’s top secret.

Burish: Then how am I supposed to absorb it?

Tmac: Through osmosis, that’s how. We don’t want it to leak out. If Reno or Snow Shovel (who has offered $10 to anyone who posts it) get ahold of it, there’s no telling what may happen.

Beer League Rocks

I think the compliance buy outs have to be over 3 or 3.5 million a year…. Burish doesn’t qualify. I have read a few places that they can be used this offseason and next, not sure about that though.

So for tonight’s game I got the dog a new squeaky toy, in the shape of a star!

That Bearded Puck

I think Todd has said in the past that Nemo has a say in whether or not he plays every game.

Irwin and Tennyson had no “system adjustment period” because they play the same system in the Woo.

ZEKE

I hoped for more from Burish — not surprised that he’s been a modest contributor. Like many up here, I wondered why DW would pay him so much

I hoped for more from Havlat, but all those reports that said he’s a skilled offensive guy without much else were right. Not much in the way of defense, board battles, etc. And when you are not a complete player, the bad things tend to wipe away the good things.

Which is why I hope DW uses those amnesty buyouts on these two. If you want to win, you can’t retain overpriced underachievers.

Bustherrr

@4,5,6,9
Did you read the article. Burish is talking about the start of the season, which has been a very unusual season, if you haven’t noticed. He was signed July 1 and the first time he meets with teammates, coaches, etc. is late January. No summer captain’s skates, no training camp, no preseason games, to get to know teammates, coaches, system, roles, expectations, etc.

Just a week to introduce and integrate, then a compressed schedule with almost no practice time between games. Team starts well, but then struggles to score (Clowe/Havlat/Handzus), so could use more 3rd-4th line scoring. Plus injuries, so players moved up to top scoring lines. A little chaos mixed with much frustration from losing lot’s of close games by scoring less then 2 goals, and with no clear path to fix the issues/problems, individuals start trying to do too much or the wrong things. Eventually things have been sorted out, & SJ 8-1-1.

Lisa,
Lehtonen was listed only wed as day to day with groin injury, so you have to think they likely rest him until at least Monday. Nilstorp had 31 saves and beat SJ 3-1 on 2/23. Bachman played/won yesterday, 26 saves 5-2 vs Nashville.

Dunlap,
Thornton has done very well for 10-15 years using size, strength,
and physical play to dominate play, (often, like Gretsky, slowing the pace to gain advantage, and using reach and puck control to make great plays). So it might not seem the most obvious course or be the easiest transition for JT to just leave that behind, abandon it, and instead start trying to play just a speed and tempo game, though he can skate well enough, is not his strength, but which clearly better suits the smaller but fast players. Why let them totally dictate play?

JT needs to find a way to blend, being able to play a speed and temp game well enough, but to also be able force the other team to have to deal with his size and physical play, which they are not as good at.

spooky

it was clear to me he was looking back.
still he should be saying these thing max 2 weeks into the season. if at all.

Renoshark

Bustherrr:

Yes, I did read the article. Which is why I’m more critical of TMac’s “system” than I am the players. Did you read my post?

spooky

that said i am not saying its his fault.
just expressing thoughts that sure he was / is one confused dude. and he is not alone because our game was most of the season a total mess.
yes, i think its on overcoaching.

Renoshark

BLR:

Agreed. DW isn’t using an amnesty buyout on that small of a cap hit. It’s the cap suffocating contracts that are subject to buyouts. I think Burish will be fine.

That Bearded Puck

It cracks me up how often this place reminds me of three blind dudes describing an elephant.

Just another lesson that different perspectives provide different views, but different does not always equal wrong.

Beer League Rocks

Reno, The cap hit has to be over 3 or 3.5 million a year to be a compliance buyout, Burish doesn’t earn that much, so he could not be bought out under those rules.

will they ever

I can see how Nemo can use his unassuming, quiet but nevertheless assertive Finnish way to play as many games as he pleases.
Having worked with many people from Finland in my past, it is quite easy to confuse quiet and unassuming with lack of fire or assertiveness within, big mistake…

So now I am trying to determine what’s the point of having a coach who has a system so secret that not even Snow Shovel can decipher and the players cannot understand so they play when they want and as they please….
It’s an enigma, which eventually was decoded anyway…

g-bum-man

Bachman in goal–dammit! Sharks have a propensity for making new goalies look like a genius the first time they face them–but Lehtonen they have torched plenty of times . Sure hope they don’t make Bachman look like a young Martin Brodeur. Gotta jump on him early to rattle his confidence. Quick start lads! Quick start!

Still want to see Boyle play on offense. Actually, what am I saying, he already does play offense, at least a few times a game. And he plays it a lot better than Burish! That has to chafe–being an offensive player, like Burish, and seeing your d-men putting up more points than you. Only Desi, Demers (who has missed significant time) and Tennyson (who just got called up) have fewer points than Burish. If I was Tmac, I would point that out to him when he complains about being scratched. Shut up and score. Or fight. Or hit. DO SOMETHING!!!!! ANYTHING!!!! At least Desi plays a real physical game.

Renoshark

BLR:

I’m in agreement with you about his contract. When I said he’d be ok, it was referencing being ok as a player. Not getting hit with an an amnesty buyout.

ZEKE

Caught a glimpse of Scott Hannan skating in warm-ups. Number 27, I think.

Cirque-Du-Clowe-a

If Dallas scores first it’s going to be a long game for the sharks….

Cirque-Du-Clowe-a

Yep is going to be a long game….

Alex

Cirque-Du-Clowe-a,
You promise?

Cirque-Du-Clowe-a

Déjà vu…

Cirque-Du-Clowe-a

Alex

Lol. Well it doesn’t look too good. Any suggestions for the sharks?

Renoshark

We look like the team that is playing a back to back. Dallas winning the effort war right now.

Sharks!!!

That last call was weak man, looks like we gonna have to beat the refs too lol.
Go Sharks!!!

GSDubs

Looks like a team playing to its road record. Does not bode well if we don’t finish 4th. I see us maybe getting out of the first round if we finish 4th, one and done if we dont.

B D

Lotta shots… straight into Bachman’s chest. Handful of good chances, but the giveaways and botched passes are making the difference after one.

Cirque-Du-Clowe-a

Gsdubs

This team is too fragile. Needs a Rx for Risperdal Consta. 25mg IM q2wk for bipolar disorder.

Ice

still plenty of hockey left, and the sharks have been playing well lately. hopefully they’ll come out and get a quick one the first couple minutes of the second period.

Renoshark

Rule #1: Don’t beat yourselves. Stars are now on their 3rd power play.

B D

Just listen to the commentary, it’s telling the story. How many times are you hearing [player] isnt able to [get the puck out | pass it to [player] | keep it in the zone]? The fundamentals aren’t happening.